Before Amanda Greene met 2010 WVU Law graduate Jonathan Brill, she had never thought
about going to law school.

“It never crossed my mind, not even once,” she said.

But when the 1L returned to her hometown of Romney, West Virginia, a few years ago,
Brill gave her a chance at a job that helped Greene discover her passion for the
law.

Greene returned to Romney after working and studying at Lindenwood University in
Saint Charles, Missouri, where she had earned an MBA and a Master’s in Public Administration.
Yet, she was not in any hurry to begin a career in those fields.

She was a professional bowler at the time, traveling and competing around the
country on weekends. What she needed was part-time work in Romney that would accommodate
her pro bowling schedule.

“I just emailed all the attorneys in Romney asking if they had any part-time openings
for an assistant,” she said.

Brill responded to her inquiry and Greene went to work in his office for more than
two years while bowling competitively.

Brill, and his brother, Brian, opened Jonathan G. Brill, PLLC a year after Jonathan
graduated from WVU Law. Jonathan is the attorney and Brian manages the daily operations
of the general practice, personal injury and litigation law firm.

Every now and then, Brill would ask Greene when she was going to take the LSAT, but
she was more committed to her bowling career.

“I bowled and I worked for him, but I wasn’t really thinking about my career path
at that time,” Greene recalled. “But then the law, and providing legal services
to those in need, turned out to be something I’m passionate about. Both Jonathan
and Brian kept encouraging me to get something going with my long-term career,
so after working with them for about a year, I decided to go ahead and try taking
the LSAT.”

After several months of preparation, Greene took the LSAT and got a competitive score.
So, she decided to take the plunge and apply to law school.

Choosing WVU Law was a no-brainer, she said, because it was close to her hometown
and her family. It also represents an important part of her home state.

“I’m from West Virginia, and almost everyone I know went to West Virginia University
for their education,” she explained. “I’ve always wanted to be a Mountaineer, and
WVU Law gave me a chance to finally be a part of this community while pursuing
something I’m passionate about.”

Brill’s support and her passion for the law have brought Greene this far. Now that
she’s on Law School Hill, Greene says she plans to use the next three years to
forge her own path in the legal profession.

“I joked with Jonathan before I left that I would blame him for convincing me to
go to law school on the nights I’m up late studying. But I really do give him credit
for me being here, and now that I’m here I’m going to stay open to every possibility,”
she said. “As of right now, I want to take courses in everything and discover what
I’m passionate about and what I really want to do as I learn about various areas
of the law.”

While her exact career path is still unclear, Greene knows that it will eventually
lead back to Romney, where it all began.

“I want to be in this profession to help and serve others,” she said. “My ultimate
goal is to get back to my hometown and help people in the community I’ve known
my whole life with their legal problems. But it’s hard to tell what path I’ll take
to get to that point.”